Thread: The Functional Fingernail.

If flossing is done daily, as it should be, the gums get quite used to it and don't bleed.

I can't tolerate long nails, as soon as they reach 1/16th I start to get fidgety with them. I also have a grimy job and they collect and hold dirt in a disgusting way. I cut them to the quick frequently.

I keep mine quite short (as above). At about 1/16" they get trimmed otherwise they will get cracked or chipped from work or hobby stuff.

For dirt/grease, nothing I have found works better for cleaning hands and nails as powdered Tide laundry detergent. Applied with a "pizza seasoning" shaker to wet hands, use a fingernail brush or old toothbrush around and under nails. As a bonus, you will instantly discover if you have any cuts!

yeah, classical guitarist here, my nails are everything!

Wow! The things that are discussed here. Lol. Not to say that the idea doesn't intrigue me its just that I would have never thought I would see that here. Great post!

Okay, about flossing. The many times I tried using it (waxed or unwaxed), it never EVER got the food out of my teeth! Sometimes it won't even get between some teeth. Add the fact that "because my gums weren't used to it", it made my teeth red with blood: it just wasn't worth it. I have a lot of dexterity in my hands/fingers, and I can use the corner of the nail to pluck food from between the gum line even on sets of teeth that touch (preventing flossing) with ease. Plus, who likes carrying floss everywhere they go?

As for when I work: my "usual" nail lengths are rarely a problem. Mostly what gets under them are bread dough & ingredients, which wash out easily. And keeping them longer, at least a little, than 1/16" actually acts as a bit of fingertip armor. A necessary attribute when one is generally unapologetically harsh to their extremities, like I am .

Originally Posted by Crawler

Okay, about flossing. The many times I tried using it (waxed or unwaxed), it never EVER got the food out of my teeth! Sometimes it won't even get between some teeth. Add the fact that "because my gums weren't used to it", it made my teeth red with blood: it just wasn't worth it. I have a lot of dexterity in my hands/fingers, and I can use the corner of the nail to pluck food from between the gum line even on sets of teeth that touch (preventing flossing) with ease. Plus, who likes carrying floss everywhere they go?

As for when I work: my "usual" nail lengths are rarely a problem. Mostly what gets under them are bread dough & ingredients, which wash out easily. And keeping them longer, at least a little, than 1/16" actually acts as a bit of fingertip armor. A necessary attribute when one is generally unapologetically harsh to their extremities, like I am .

Take a tip from us older fellas. if you want to keep your teeth start flossing. Usually you can get away without doing it until you reach around age 40 or maybe earlier and then you start seeing blood when you brush and if you do nothing about it that's when you start losing teeth. No matter how tight your teeth are you can floss and if it doesn't do the job it means you're not doing it right (just like honing).

For your dental health, at least take the initial step of a Sonic care toothbrush. After using that for a while, flossing will not be a problematic event.

Crawler, did you blur your fingerprints as a means of identity theft prevention?